Aggressive drivers ranged from tailgaters to those who get out of their cars for face- to-face confrontations

More than half of motorists have experienced aggressive or dangerous driving in the past year, it has been claimed.

The findings were revealed on RTE documentary Mean Streets which shone a light on the rude gestures, rows and road rage.

Aggressive drivers ranged from tailgaters to those who get out of their cars for face- to-face confrontations.

One in 20 drivers told a survey they had experienced an altercation while one in seven had a rude gesture made at them.

With over two and half million people involved in a daily commute, the documentary found the roads leading into Dublin can be less than friendly.

Mean Streets producer Philip Gallagher said he wasn’t surprised at the level of aggression on the roads.

He said: “Having spent a number of months filming every day on the roads I am not surprised one in two people experienced aggression. Cyclists seem to get a fair bit of abuse from motorists. The bike courier we filmed with told us he’s had bottles thrown at him, he’s been spat it, he’s had apple cores thrown at him out of the window of cars.”

The study also revealed that drivers under the age of 24 from Leinster were more likely to have acted aggressively over the past year.

While just over 414,000 people walk to work and in excess of 61,000 cycle, just over two million get to work, college or school by using a car, bus or lorry. The poll found 22% of road users had been on the receiving end of excessive horn beeping and 21% were tailgated.

And 22% saw a motorist use a bus lane to get ahead of traffic while 20% experienced another driving blocking them from entering or leaving the traffic flow.

The survey, carried out just before Christmas by Millward Brown, also uncovered how more men than women experience aggressive behaviour with 57% of guys compared to 54% of females on the receiving end.

The documentary examined how stress and aggression are common as cars, trucks, bicycles, buses and pedestrians fight for corner.

The crew spent a day with a courier, a driving instructor, staff who collect tolls at Dublin Tunnel, a commuter and a clamper to get a slice of their life on the road.